love

June 17, 2024

Follow the Example of Jesus

Hebrews 12.1-17

We are not alone in this thing called the Christian life. We are surrounded by those who have gone before who bear witness to the faithfulness of God. We have the LORD as a constant companion. And we have each other to lean on and support along the way.

So, our job is to live with intentionality. To run the race we’ve been given to run. To run it well. To run it with endurance. The only way to do that is by leaving behind the things that trip us up and fixing our eyes on Jesus, helping each other along the way.

Suffering is never fun, but when we recognize our suffering as the tool the LORD is using to make us more like Himself…as the discipline of a loving Father who is shaping and molding our character to reflect His…then our suffering produces in us the peaceful fruit of rightness. If not…watch out for the root of bitterness that is sure to spring up.

Dads, you have the awesome responsibility of leading your family in these things…which means you have to go before them because you can’t lead your family where you’re not going. It starts with spending time in the Word, time in prayer, time with other men…learning to reflect the character of your Heavenly Father.

Then, it’s shepherding your family well, providing for them, protecting and serving them. Leading them and guiding them. Nurturing them. Fighting for them. According to Deuteronomy 6, the faith that you have you are to to pass on to your sons/daughters. To do that, it goes back not only to teaching it to them, but also to modeling it for them.

Finally, it’s acknowledging that sometimes life is hard, but remembering that Jesus is greater. And Dads, thank you for being here this morning. For many men it’s not easy going to church. But by being here today you’re showing your family what it looks like to follow Jesus in the day to day. Sometimes in our walk with the LORD we just need to show up. We live in a culture that has so devalued the role of husbands and fathers, the world…this community…this church…your family…needs you to step up and be the man of God that the LORD has created, gifted, called and saved you to be.

So, let us lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of faith, so that we will not grow weary and lose heart. And let’s do it together.

pro rege

This post is based on a sermon from our Hebrews series. Download the podcast at: Central Christian Church Main Service, or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, X or Threads: @ccclancaster. You can also download our Central Christian app in the iTunes App Store.

June 10, 2024

By Faith: Part 3

Hebrews 11.32-40

By faith…these folks did some incredible things. Faith that gave them the ability to act in confidence, trusting God, “seeing” beyond their circumstances, and so do and accomplish what might otherwise seem unexplainable and even impossible.

Important to note…it was God who acted. These folks just trusted that God would do what He said He would do. I think sometimes we confuse faith and make it more about us, putting ourselves at the center as if our faith “made” something happen rather than our faith being the confidence in our God who makes things happen. Super important distinction.

And while it’s easy to celebrate the great triumphs of faith…what even the world would call “winning”, the truly great triumphs of faith occur when we patiently endure in the midst of suffering never wavering in our confidence in the LORD despite the lack of circumstantial evidence to the contrary…when, in the eyes of the world, it looks like we are losing.

Living by faith is not easy…it takes practice, and we won’t always get it right. We will fail more often than we succeed in the beginning. But when we do, we don’t give up. We go at it again, asking the LORD for help to trust Him more and to patiently endure with our eyes fixed on the kingdom and our feet firmly planted on Torah Road, pursuing after Jesus, anxiously awaiting the return of our King.

BTW if you haven’t trusted in Jesus yet, please make today the day. It’s as simple as recognizing that you are a sinner in need of a Savior. Believing that Jesus is the Savior that God promised. He lived a perfect life. He died a sacrificial death on your behalf and was raised the third day conquering both sin and death, so that by faith in Jesus you can have forgiveness of sins and eternal life.

pro rege

This post is based on a sermon from our Hebrews series. Download the podcast at: Central Christian Church Main Service, or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, X or Threads: @ccclancaster. You can also download our Central Christian app in the iTunes App Store.

June 3, 2024

By Faith: Part 2

Hebrews 11.17-31

By faith…the only way to patiently endure…the only way to live a life that is pleasing to God… is by faith.

Faith is the assurance of things hoped. It’s the reality behind our confident expectation. It’s the proof…the conviction…of the things we cannot see. The Substance behind the shadows. And this faith becomes visible through our actions. When we do what God calls us to do despite what our circumstances may say to the contrary. Resting in the confidence that God always keeps His Word…He will never leave us or forsake us. He will complete the work He’s begun in us and through us.

Living by faith is not easy, and we won’t always get it right. But when we mess up (because we will), we don’t give up. Instead we get up and get back on Torah road, patiently enduring with our eyes fixed on the kingdom, pursuing after Jesus, anxiously awaiting the return of our King…by faith.

BTW if you haven’t trusted in Jesus yet, please make today the day. It’s as simple as recognizing that you are a sinner in need of a Savior. Believing that Jesus is the Savior that God promised. He lived a perfect life. He died a sacrificial death on your behalf and was raised the third day conquering both sin and death, so that by faith in Jesus you can have forgiveness of sins and eternal life.

pro rege

This post is based on a sermon from our Hebrews series. Download the podcast at: Central Christian Church Main Service, or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, X or Threads: @ccclancaster. You can also download our Central Christian app in the iTunes App Store.

May 27, 2024

By Faith: Part 1

Hebrews 11.1-16

By faith…the only way to patiently endure is by faith. Following the example of the ancient faithful.

Faith is not a leap in the dark. It’s the assurance of things hoped. It’s the reality behind our confident expectation. It’s the proof…the conviction…of the things we cannot see. The Substance behind the shadows. Faith is required if we are going to please God…faith that He is and that He rewards those who seek Him.

Faith (unseen) becomes visible through our actions. Our obedience to what God calls us to do, and our patient endurance in the midst of suffering. Just like these Hebrew Christians.

And like the ancient faithful, we too are to live as strangers and sojourners in this world, with our eyes fixed on the kingdom and our feet firmly planted on Torah Road, pursuing after Jesus, anxiously awaiting the return of our King. Not always easy to do…that’s why it’s by faith.

BTW if you haven’t trusted in Jesus yet, please make today the day. It’s as simple as recognizing that you are a sinner in need of a Savior. Believing that Jesus is the Savior that God promised. He lived a perfect life. He died a sacrificial death on your behalf and was raised the third day conquering both sin and death, so that by faith in Jesus you can have forgiveness of sins, eternal life, and that you too can live by faith. 

pro rege

This post is based on a sermon from our Hebrews series. Download the podcast at: Central Christian Church Main Service, or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, X or Threads: @ccclancaster. You can also download our Central Christian app in the iTunes App Store.

May 13, 2024

Some Mother’s Day Encouragement

1 Samuel 1

Hannah was a woman of prayer, a woman of faith, a faithful woman, and a thankful woman of worship. Oh, and of course Hannah was a mom.

Prayer, faith, faithfulness, thankfulness, and worship…all things that are not just good for moms. They’re good for all of us.

Moms…you have the incredible responsibility of caring for your kids, and one of the most significant of  your responsibilities is passing on your faith to them, and that starts with the time you spend pursuing after the LORD yourself. You can’t lead them where you’re not going. So your training them up in the fear and admonition of the LORD is simply the overflow of the life you are living before them. That’s where prayer and Bible stories and taking them to church and your own lived-out faith come into play. Teaching them to worship the LORD just like you.

And Moms…as much as you want to, you cannot protect your kids from everything forever…especially as they get older. They will make mistakes, just like you did. So, take advantage of every one of those teachable moments while they are young. Teach your kids to be in the world, but not of the world. You won’t do it perfectly, and your kids won’t always respond the way that you would have hoped, but moms, when you have done all that you know to do, continue to pray for your kids and be in the Word. You may not see the fruit of your labor…it may not seem like it’s “taking”, but remember…when they are in distress, when they are alone, when their worlds are crumbling…they will remember what their momma taught them. So be encouraged.

If you can, thank your mom today for all she has done…give her a hug, send her a text, make a phone call… and let her know how much you love her and that you appreciate all that she has done for you.

pro rege,

This post is based on our Mother’s Day sermon. Download the podcast at: Central Christian Church Main Service, or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, X or Threads: @ccclancaster. You can also download our Central Christian app in the iTunes App Store.

May 6, 2024

A Terrifying Thing…

Hebrew 10.26-39

Endure. Hold fast your confidence. Keep trekking down Torah Road. Live the life that you were saved for. Invest your mina well.

If not…the picture is pretty grim. The LORD will discipline His people. Guaranteed. Why? Because He saved us for a reason. And He redeemed us with the blood of His own Son. So we dare not turn back, but press on.

But why might we be tempted to turn back? Because following Jesus is hard. Giving up the life we once knew. Suffering persecution. Loss of friends and family. Wanting to go back to Egypt. Back to the good ole days. We fool ourselves into thinking that life was so much simpler then. Less friction. Less resistance. Really? Yeah, I’m not buying it. There’s a reason you chose to trust in Jesus. Because Egypt was death. Your old life wasn’t life at all. No hope and without God in the world…but so soon we forget.

We were saved on purpose for a purpose. That we might bear fruit for the kingdom. That we might endure suffering for the faith and hold fast our confession firm until the end. That we wouldn’t shrink back, but boldly move forward, storming the gates of hell and rescuing the captives. Going in for just one more.

So, let us not be those who shrink back, but those who, with confidence, forge ahead in our pursuit of Jesus. Let’s continue down Torah Road. And let’s do it together.

pro rege,

This post is based on a sermon from our Hebrews series. Download the podcast at: Central Christian Church Main Service, or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, X or Threads: @ccclancaster. You can also download our Central Christian app in the iTunes App Store.

April 29, 2024

Drawing Near to God

Hebrews 10.19-25

Because of Jesus we can draw near to God in full assurance of faith. Let that sink in for just a minute. Because of Jesus, we have full access to the Father. No longer is that access limited to one person, one time a year and only with the blood of bulls and goats. But because of Jesus’ once for all sacrifice of Himself for our sins, we need not fear but confidently step through the veil. Because of Jesus.

So let us do those things…provoke each other to love and good works, continually draw near to God, and hold fast our confession without wavering. May we be a light and a beacon of hope in this valley, as we anxiously await the return of our King. And may we do it together.

If you haven’t trusted in Jesus yet, please make today the day. It’s as simple as recognizing that you are a sinner in need of a Savior. Believing that Jesus is the Savior that God promised. He lived a perfect life. He died a sacrificial death on your behalf and was raised the third day conquering both sin and death, so that by faith in Jesus you can have forgiveness of sins and eternal life. You too will have the righteousness that comes from God through faith in Jesus.

pro rege

This post is based on a sermon from our Hebrews series. Download the podcast at: Central Christian Church Main Service, or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, X or Threads: @ccclancaster. You can also download our Central Christian app in the iTunes App Store.

April 15, 2024

The Mediator of a New Covenant

Hebrews 9.15-28

Jesus is the Mediator of a New Covenant. A covenant that has been inaugurated with His own shed blood. A covenant by which He has put away sin for all time for those who believe in Him by the sacrifice of Himself.

Jesus has taken care of the sin problem. For everyone who believes. And because He’s taken care of the sin problem (the root), all our sins (fruit) are forgiven. That doesn’t give us an excuse to sin…it gives us confidence to live the life He’s called us to without guilt or shame.

Jesus is coming back. The King will return. What will you say when He asks you how you invested the life He entrusted you with? Will it be a time of celebration or a time of regret? Good news is…you still have time to turn it around if you need to. If you’re still here, then He still has work for you to do. It’s not too late.

If you haven’t trusted in Jesus yet, please make today the day. It’s as simple as recognizing that you are a sinner in need of a Savior. Believing that Jesus is the Savior that God promised. He lived a perfect life. He died a sacrificial death on your behalf and was raised the third day conquering both sin and death, so that by faith in Jesus you can have forgiveness of sins and eternal life. And a clean conscience.

pro rege

This post is based on a sermon from our Hebrews series. Download the podcast at: Central Christian Church Main Service, or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, X or Threads: @ccclancaster. You can also download our Central Christian app in the iTunes App Store.

April 8, 2024

The Old and the New

Hebrews 9.1-14

The old and the new. The copies and shadows vs. the Substance. Paul said it before, but may we never get tired of hearing it…we have such a High Priest.

All that the OT anticipated…all that the sacrifices looked forward to…the pictures and the symbols. All of it. Is now fulfilled in Jesus. What the blood of bulls and goats could never fully accomplish, Jesus did. They covered sin for a time. He took it away for all time. They worked for the cleansing of the flesh. He provided the way for the cleansing of the conscience. Theirs was external. His internal. There’s was a knockoff. He’s the real thing.

Jesus entered into the greater and more perfect tabernacle, the holy place, not of this creation, once for all, offering His own blood, obtaining eternal salvation, cleansing the conscience of those who believe from dead works to serve the living God. Jesus is greater…

If you haven’t trusted in Jesus yet, please make today the day. It’s as simple as recognizing that you are a sinner in need of a Savior. Believing that Jesus is the Savior that God promised. He lived a perfect life. He died a sacrificial death on your behalf and was raised the third day conquering both sin and death, so that by faith in Jesus you can have forgiveness of sins, eternal life and a clean conscience.

pro rege

This post is based on a sermon from our Hebrews series. Download the podcast at: Central Christian Church Main Service, or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, X or Threads: @ccclancaster. You can also download our Central Christian app in the iTunes App Store.

April 1, 2024

Easter – A Living Hope

1 Peter 1

Jesus changes everything! Because of His death and resurrection we have a living hope…a hope that’s alive because Jesus is alive and a faith that continues to grow and mature as we follow Him. We need not live a life of fear, though the world around us is shaking, we can have confidence knowing that the temporary things may fade, but the kingdom remains.

So let us live as sojourners in this world. Let us live courageous and generous lives, preoccupied with the kingdom. And let us make an impact in the lives of those around us for Jesus…living like Him and living for Him no matter what comes our way.

Do you know Jesus as Savior today? If you have not yet trusted in Him, today can be the day of salvation for you. He has already done all the heavy lifting. You simply have to recognize your need to be saved…that you are a sinner in need of a Savior. And believe that Jesus came to do just that…He lived a perfect life, died a sacrificial death in your place and was raised the third day, conquering both sin and death. When you do that, the Bible says that your sins are forgiven, that you have eternal life, a living hope, an eternal inheritance, and that you are now a part of God’s family…a son or daughter of the King.

pro rege

This post is based on a sermon from Easter. Download the podcast at: Central Christian Church Main Service, or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, X or Threads: @ccclancaster. You can also download our Central Christian app in the iTunes App Store.